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Biomedical subjects

J B So

Publications and source records attributed to J B So.

14 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2001

Use of laparoscopy in the management of mesenteric venous thrombosis.

Mesenteric vein thrombosis is a relatively rare cause of intestinal ischemia. We present a case of idiopathic superior mesenteric and portal vein thrombosis, which was not associated with any infarcted bowel. The patient was treated successfully with anticoagulation using low-molecular weight heparin and warfarin, and did not require bowel resection. This case highlights the value of diagnostic laparoscopy for assessing intestinal viability in this situation, showing how it avoids the morbidity and complications associated with a formal laparotomy.

Adult↗
PubMed2001

Thoracolaparoscopic repair of traumatic diaphragmatic rupture.

Diaphragmatic rupture may occur after blunt or penetration trauma caused by the application of a powerful external force. Diaphragmatic rupture usually is repaired via laporotomy and/or thoracotomy, depending on the associated organ injury. The case of a 49-year-old man with traumatic rupture of the left hemidiaphragm is presented. Preoperatively, diaphragmatic rupture with herniation of the stomach into the left thoracic cavity was confirmed by computed tomography scan of the thorax. Under thoracoscopic guidance, the stomach, spleen, and omentum were repositioned in the abdominal cavity, and the rupture site (10 cm) was closed by nonabsorbable suture. A subsequent laparoscopy was performed to assess the efficacy of the repair and the absence of any abdominal organ injury. The patient was discharged from hospital without any respiratory or abdominal symptoms. Our report confirms that in the case of a patient with penetration injuries to the lower chest and upper abdomen, a combined thoracoscopic and laparoscopic approach may offer both diagnostic and therapeutic benefits with reduced surgical trauma. We conclude that thoracoscopic repair of traumatic diaphragmatic rupture can be used safely when no abdominal organ injuries are found.

Hernia, Diaphragmatic, Traumatic↗
PubMed2001

Robotically assisted laparoscopic cholecystectomy: a pilot study.

HYPOTHESIS: Since the advent of laparoscopic surgery in 1987 and the introduction of robotics into medicine in 1991, medical technology has advanced to robotic applications in performing surgery. In our study, we investigated the feasibility of performing simple laparoscopic maneuvers and laparoscopic cholecystectomy using a robotic surgical system. DESIGN: The study used a ZEUS robotic system (Computer Motion Inc, Goleta, Calif), consisting of 3 interactive robotic arms fixed at the operating table and remotely controlled by the surgeon. After initial training, using a bench model and 3 isolated porcine livers to perform cholecystectomy, 7 female pigs underwent robotically assisted laparoscopic cholecystectomy. The surgeon, seated at the console, manipulated the 3-mm laparoscopic instruments and performed the surgery. RESULTS: Robotically assisted laparoscopic cholecystectomy was accomplished in all 7 pigs, with a mean operative time of 46 minutes (range, 30-62 minutes). There were no complications. The mean time to setup of the robotic system decreased from 30 minutes to 14 minutes. All the robotic maneuvers were performed without any particular difficulties, and the movements were stable, accurate, and reliable, with good control. CONCLUSIONS: Our preliminary experimental study showed that robotically reproduced laparoscopic maneuvers, such as tying, suturing, dissection, clipping, and cautery, seemed to be as accurate and as fast as maneuvers made without robotics. We conclude that our initial experimental and animal study confirmed the feasibility of robotically assisted laparoscopic cholecystectomy. Further reports are needed to show that robotics can be used for clinical applications in surgery.

Animals↗
PubMed2001

Randomized trial of needlescopic versus laparoscopic cholecystectomy.

BACKGROUND: Several studies have reported the feasibility of using 'needlescopic' instruments with a diameter less than 3 mm in minimally invasive surgery. This study reports a comparison of needlescopic cholecystectomy and laparoscopic cholecystectomy. METHODS: Seventy-five patients with symptomatic chronic cholelithiasis were randomized to needlescopic (n = 37) or laparoscopic (n = 38) cholecystectomy. RESULTS: The duration of surgery in the two groups was similar. Patients in the needlescopic group had less pain (mean visual analogue score 2.2 versus 3.6; P < 0.003) and had smaller scars (median length 17.0 versus 25.0 mm; P < 0.001). In addition, patients in the needlescopic group tended to require fewer intramuscular pethidine injections (P = 0.05). However, oral analgesic requirements in the two groups were similar. There were no complications in either group. CONCLUSION: Needlescopic cholecystectomy resulted in less postoperative pain and a smaller surgical scar than laparoscopic cholecystectomy in patients with chronic cholecystitis.

Cholecystectomy, Laparoscopic↗
PubMed2001

Early experience with laparoscopic radical gastrectomy for advanced gastric cancer.

Use of the laparoscopic approach for the management of gastric cancer is still in the developmental phase. The authors present their experience with laparoscopic radical gastrectomy for advanced gastric cancer. Between September 1997 and August 1999, four laparoscopic gastrectomies for gastric carcinoma were performed on two male and two female patients (mean age, 61.5 years). One D2 total radical gastrectomy and three D2 subtotal distal gastrectomies were performed, using a totally laparoscopic approach. Mean operative time was 210 minutes. There were no intraoperative complications. All four patients recovered uneventfully from surgery and began oral feeding on the third postoperative day. Median postoperative stay was 7 days (range, 6-9). All patients were alive 8 months to 3 years after the operation, with no cancer recurrences. This series shows that laparoscopic radical gastrectomy for moderately advanced cancers can produce good results in terms of safety and oncologic adequacy.

Adenocarcinoma↗
PubMed2000

Expression of cell-cycle regulators p27 and cyclin E correlates with survival in gastric carcinoma patients.

BACKGROUND: Cell-cycle control is important in carcinogenesis and cancer progression. p27 and cyclin E are cell-cycle regulators, which control the G1-S phase transition. Recently, these two factors were found to be affected in many human cancers. The aim of the study was to examine the expression of p27 and cyclin E in gastric cancer and to evaluate their prognostic implication. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Paraffin blocks of 56 samples of advanced gastric cancer, 15 samples of early gastric cancer, and 17 samples of normal gastric mucosa were studied. Expression of p27 and cyclin E was analyzed by immunohistochemistry. The relationship between the expression and clinicopathological data was examined. RESULTS: Expression of p27 was reduced in 89% of advanced cancer samples, 44% of early cancer samples, and 12% of normal mucosa samples (P<0.0001). Among the cancers, reduced expression of p27 was associated with a large tumor size, increased cancer invasion, nodal metastases, and the presence of residual tumor after operation. No significant difference in cyclin E expression was found. Kaplan-Meier plots of survival showed tumors with low p27 were associated with poorer survival than those with high p27 expression (RR, 5.3; CI = 1.6-17.4; P = 0.005). Tumors with low p27 and high cyclin E expression were associated with the highest mortality expression (RR, 9.8; CI = 1.2-80; P = 0.03). CONCLUSIONS: Gastric cancer with low expression of p27 is associated with aggressive characteristics and a poorer outcome.

Adult↗
PubMed2000

Risk factors related to operative mortality and morbidity in patients undergoing emergency gastrectomy.

BACKGROUND: Emergency gastric resection for complicated peptic ulcer and gastric cancer is a major challenge for general surgeons. This study aimed to evaluate the results of emergency gastrectomy and to examine the factors that predict the operative outcome. METHODS: A total of 82 consecutive patients who underwent emergency gastrectomy were studied. The following variables were assessed: pathology, mortality rate, morbidity, reasons for reoperation and factors related to the outcome. RESULTS: There were 64 men and 18 women with a median age of 62 (range 30-90) years. The indications were bleeding and perforated gastric or duodenal ulcers in 45 and 20 patients respectively, and bleeding and perforated gastric tumours in seven and ten patients respectively. The overall mortality rate was 17 per cent (n = 14). The complication rate was 63 per cent and 11 patients (13 per cent) required reoperation. By multivariate analysis, age greater than 65 years and blood haemoglobin level less than 10 g/dl on admission were predictive of complications after emergency gastrectomy. Postoperative pulmonary and cardiac complications and hypotension on admission were independent risk factors associated with operative death. CONCLUSION: Age more than 65 years, haemoglobin level less than 10 g/dl and hypotension on admission were associated with a poor outcome after emergency gastrectomy. The operative result was not affected by the underlying gastric pathology.

Adult↗
PubMed1999

Role of laparoscopy in the management of stomach cancer.

The use of laparoscopy for staging and treatment of gastric cancer has evolved in the past decade along with other advanced laparoscopic procedures. Laparoscopic staging of gastric cancer, especially with the addition of laparoscopic ultrasonography, has been shown more reliable than radiologic modalities and it effectively decreases the incidence of unnecessary laparotomy. Although it is not commonly performed in Western countries, the use of laparoscopic curative resection for gastric cancer is growing, especially in Japan. Laparoscopic resection of early gastric cancer has been shown to be safe and effective in many retrospective series though no prospective randomized studies comparing it to open resection have been performed. Despite being more controversial, laparoscopic curative resection of advanced gastric cancer also has been performed at multiple institutions with encouraging early results. This review will present the current worldwide experience of laparoscopy for gastric cancer.

Adenocarcinoma↗
PubMed1999

Right-sided colonic diverticular disease as a source of lower gastrointestinal bleeding.

Right-sided colonic diverticular disease is a distinct disease entity uncommon in the West. Occasionally, the condition may be complicated by hemorrhage and present as lower gastrointestinal bleeding. We report a series of 25 cases of bleeding right colon diverticulosis and discuss its presentation and management. Patients were selected from the colonoscopic reports of all 190 patients presented with suspected acute lower gastrointestinal bleeding in National University Hospital, Singapore, from 1988 to 1994. Fifty-seven patients (30%) had bleeding diverticulosis in which 25 patients (44%) suffered from right-sided disease. Sixty-four per cent of patients had a history of hypertension. Patients presented with either fresh blood in stools or melena. Fifteen patients (60%) required blood transfusion (median, 2 units). Colonoscopy showed blood clots in the right colon in 15 cases (60%) and active bleeding from the right colon diverticula in 3 patients (12%). The bleeding stopped spontaneously in 16 patients (64%). The other 9 patients required surgery because of continuous or recurrent bleeding. All had a right hemicolectomy performed. The hospital stay was 13 days in this group, compared with 5 days for those undergoing conservative treatment (P = 0.0004). There were no deaths. No patients had further bleeding episodes during a median 7-month follow-up.

Acute Disease↗
PubMed1998

Experience of percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy at Massachusetts General Hospital--indications and complications.

BACKGROUND: Percutaneous Endoscopic Gastrostomy (PEG) is a relatively new method to deliver nutrition to patients with inadequate caloric intake who have a functionally intact gastrointestinal tract. METHODS: This is a retrospective review of 58 consecutive patients who were referred to the Surgical Endoscopy Unit, Massachusetts General Hospital for placement of PEG in 1996. The current indications, methods, and results of PEG will be discussed. RESULTS: Of this series, all but one patient had the PEG successfully placed. Indications included head and neck cancer (29 patients); neurological disorders (21 patients); burns (3 patients); respiratory failure (2 patients), and aspirations (2 patients). Fifty-four percent of cases were performed with local anaesthesia. There was one complication (2%) with no procedural-related mortality. CONCLUSION: PEG is an easy and safe procedure. It is a good alternative to provide enteral feeding in selected patients.

Adult↗
PubMed1998

Outcomes of atypical symptoms attributed to gastroesophageal reflux treated by laparoscopic fundoplication.

BACKGROUND: The introduction of laparoscopic fundoplication (LF) has lowered the threshold for operation in patients with symptoms attributed to gastroesophageal reflux. We sought to determine whether the outcomes in patients referred for atypical symptoms (pulmonary, pharyngolaryngeal, and pain syndromes) were as good as those referred for correction of heartburn and regurgitation (typical symptoms). METHODS: Thirty-five of 150 consecutive patients undergoing LF with a minimum of 12 months of follow-up were referred primarily for correction of atypical symptoms. A standard preoperative evaluation included endoscopy, manometry, upper gastrointestinal contrast radiography, and 24-hour pH probe testing (33 of 35 patients with atypical symptoms). Patients completed a symptom questionnaire administered by a study nurse before the operation and 3 and 12 months after the operation. Symptoms were scored from 0 to 10. RESULTS: Heartburn was relieved by LF in 93% of patients, whereas only 56% of patients had relief of atypical symptoms. Furthermore, the degree of improvement in typical symptoms was greater than that seen for atypical symptoms as measured by the 0 to 10-symptom rating score (improvement in typical symptoms = 6.2 vs improvement in atypical symptoms = 4.4 [p = 0.01]). The response rate for laryngeal, pulmonary, and epigastric/chest pain symptoms was 78%, 58%, and 48%, respectively. Analysis of factors associated with relief of atypical symptoms revealed that response to a preoperative trial of omeprazole or H2-blockers was significantly associated with successful surgical outcome (p = 0.03). Six of seven patients with laryngeal symptoms who had acid reflux above the cricopharyngeal level shown by dual-probe pH testing had relief of the symptoms after LF. Manometric findings (amplitude of esophageal body contractions, propagation of contractions, and lower esophageal sphincter resting pressure) neither predicted nor correlated with relief of atypical symptoms after the operation. CONCLUSIONS: Relief of atypical symptoms attributed to gastroesophageal reflux by LF is less satisfactory and more difficult to predict than relief of heartburn and regurgitation. The only useful preoperative predictors of relief of atypical symptoms in this study were the response to pharmacologic acid suppression and dual-probe pH testing (only in patients with laryngeal symptoms).

Adult↗
PubMed1997

Postoperative perineal hernia.

PURPOSE: Perineal hernia is an uncommon complication following abdominoperineal resection. The aim of the study was to evaluate the predisposing factors and the optimum method of repair. METHODS: A retrospective review of patients with postoperative perineal hernia at the Massachusetts General Hospital between 1963 and 1995 was performed. RESULTS: Twenty-one patients with perineal hernias were found. The original perineal operations were as follows: abdominoperineal resection in 13 patients, pelvic exenteration in 5 patients, cystourethrectomy in 2 patients, and perineal resection of the rectal stump in 1 patient. The incidence of symptomatic perineal hernia following abdominoperineal resection was estimated to be 0.62 percent. A total of 69 percent of patients had the original perineal wound left partially open, and in 10 percent it was left completely open. The peritoneal defect was not closed in 53 percent of patients, and only 21 percent had closure of the levator defect. Of the 19 patients who had hernia repair, 13 were repaired transperineally and 3 transabdominally and 3 required a combined abdominoperineal approach. The repair methods were as follows: simple closure of the pelvic defect (10 patients), mesh closure (5 patients), gluteus flap (1 patient), and retroflexion of the uterus (2 patients) or bladder (1 patient). Four patients had postoperative complications (mostly wound infections), and the recurrence rate was 16 percent. There was no difference in length of hospitalization among transperineal, transabdominal, and combined approaches. CONCLUSIONS: Primary closure of the perineal wound, with careful avoidance of wound infection is the most important consideration for avoiding a perineal hernia. Repair via the perineum with simple closure of the defect or a mesh is successful in most cases.

Abdomen↗
PubMed1997

A study of the effects of bowel preparation on CEA levels in patients undergoing surveillance colonoscopy.

Mechanical bowel preparation has been postulated to be another cause of "false rise' of serum carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) levels. Furthermore, it was shown that high-risk patients for colorectal cancer had a greater rise in serum CEA after bowel preparation. To verify these findings, a prospective study of 24 consecutive patients in our surgical endoscopic unit on the effect of mechanical bowel preparation of serum CEA level as carried out from January to March 1994. Blood samples were taken before and after bowel preparation for patients undergoing surveillance colonoscopy for various reasons. Our study did not show any relationship between serum CEA levels and bowel preparation. No rise of serum CEA was found even in high-risk patients after bowel preparation.

Adult↗